* Kankakee Daily Journal…
Kankakee Mayor Chasity Wells-Armstrong is passing up the opportunity to apply for the soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat held by Democrat Toi Hutchinson.
Meanwhile, state Rep. Anthony DeLuca says he is interested in the position.
By state law, Democratic Party leaders in Hutchinson’s 40th District get to choose her replacement. She announced last week she was resigning to take a state job.
…Adding… Great point by Hannah…
Out of about 71 thousand votes Hutchinson received in 2016, Will County provided a not inconsequential 17 thousand of them.
* Man, there will be a lot of races in Will County next year, both in the primary and the general. Here’s Ted Slowik at the Daily Southtown…
Former state Sen. Larry Walsh Sr., 71, a Democrat from Elwood, announced in August that he would not seek a fifth term as Will County executive. Walsh, who first won the countywide office in 2004, said he plans to serve out his term. Walsh, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, has said he plans to focus on his health. […]
On the Democratic side, Walsh supports Nick Palmer, of Joliet, his longtime chief of staff. Palmer faces a primary challenge from 49th District state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, of Shorewood.
Three Republicans and a Democrat are already vying to replace Margo McDermed, of Mokena, as state representative for the 37th District. McDermed, 69, who was first elected to the seat in 2014, announced in July she would not seek another term. The district covers parts of Frankfort, Homer Glen, Joliet, Lockport, Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park and Tinley Park. […]
Also last week, Democrat Pat McGuire, of Joliet, announced he would not seek reelection as state senator representing the 43rd District. McGuire previously served as Will County treasurer and on the Joliet Township High School District Board of Education.
So, that’s Hutchinson, the elder Walsh, Bertino-Tarant, McDermed and McGuire. Sen. Sue Rezin is running for Congress, so if she wins that seat will open up (and while the congressional race will mainly be focused elsewhere, Will County will still be important). And Rep. Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) could find himself in the general election fight of his life next year (about 15 thousand total votes were cast in the Will County portion last year). There were less than 2,000 votes in freshman Rep. Anne M. Stava-Murray’s district within Will County last year, but every vote will matter in that district next year.
…Adding… I forgot to mention that people are lining up to run against GOP Rep. Mark Batinick as well, including Plainfield Trustee and ironworker Harry Benton. There were about 35 thousand votes cast in the Will County part of the district last year. And, of course, Rep. John Connor is running for Sen. McGuire’s seat, which opens up that House district.
- Red Line Rambler - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 2:46 pm:
Rep John Connor’s seat will be up as well when he runs for Senator McGuire’s seat. On top of that, there are a handful of county wide seats that will be up, along with the County Executive seat.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 2:51 pm:
To the Post,
What’s interesting in the overall is that Will County is showing that there are two parties (or more) that are viable choices and Will County is better for it. This is the hope that Cook and the collars can look at Will County and see with good recruiting / deep root politics we can have a real choice for voters.
Will County in this instance shouldn’t be the exception. Will County should be one of many counties where the political energies of discussion and choice will make the county stronger too.
Can the state GOP and the collar counties GOP decide to be relevant?
- former will county resident - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
Between Bertino-Tarant, Walsh, Hutchinson, and potentially Rezin, significant swaths of the county will or could have new state Senators next year. Basically everything except Lincoln-Way, Homer Glen, and the far northern portions and rural eastern portions of the county
- Phil - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 3:14 pm:
I bet John Cullerton wishes those senators would have delayed their departures a bit. It would be a lot easier to draw a map with a three fewer incumbents going into the 2022 cycle.
- Moist von Lipwig - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 3:21 pm:
Will County’s got some real rockstars working behind the scenes that made some real progress in 2018 and even 2019(!) for the Democratic Party; I think they’ll be in good hands.
- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Oct 1, 19 @ 3:40 pm:
Batinick barely won his last election by a hundred votes or so, against what was pretty much an unknown challenger. I doubt he hangs on when running against what has to be one of the most liked trustees plainfield has had in decades, if not ever.